Lucky 13: AL Edges NL to Extend All-Star Streak in Midsummer Classic

Different year, different path, same result.

The American League stretched its unbeaten streak in the All-Star Game to 13 (12 wins, one tie), edging the National League 4-3 Tuesday night in St. Louis for its fourth consecutive one-run victory in the showcase. The win secured home-field advantage for the junior circuit in the World Series for the seventh straight season, making it unbeaten since the exhibition took on that meaning.

In stark contrast to last year's game, which lasted 15 innings and a record four hours and 50 minutes, this year's was a brisk two hours and 31 minutes, the shortest Midsummer Classic since 1988 and a tribute to the irrepressible pitching of the American League.

Starter Roy Halladay put the AL in an early hole, surrendering three runs – two earned – in two innings of work, but from there it was lights out.

The seven pitchers that followed Toronto's Halladay for the AL combined for seven shutout innings, allowing one hit and one walk. They needed a collective 73 pitches to navigate those final seven frames, 49 of which were thrown for strikes. At one point, AL relievers retired 18 straight National League hitters.

When the relentless pitching let up, the American League flashed the leather to stifle the NL's offense, most notably when All-Star MVP Carl Crawford robbed Colorado's Brad Hawpe of an apparent home run at the left-field wall in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Crawford's snag kept the score level at 3-all, allowing Red Sox closer and eventual winner Jonathan Papelbon to escape the frame unscathed and setting up the AL's game-winning rally in the top of the eighth.

Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson tripled to left-center field to lead off the next half-inning – drilling the ball to a similar spot Hawpe did, but using a bad misplay by NL left fielder Justin Upton to motor all the way to third. After Heath Bell intentionally walked Victor Martinez, Baltimore's Adam Jones brought Granderson home on a sacrifice fly.

That was all the American League would need.

AL skipper Joe Maddon turned to Twins closer Joe Nathan in the bottom of the eighth. Nathan wiggled out of a two-out, first-and-third jam by whiffing pinch-hitter Ryan Howard, then gave way to venerable Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.

The last part of Maddon's three-headed relief monster, Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, picking up his record-setting fourth career save in the All-Star Game and posting his eighth inning in the Classic without allowing an earned run.

MLB All-Star Game Photos

Detroit Tigers' Curtis Granderson (R) is congratulated by his American League teammates after Granderson scored a run on a sacrifice fly by Baltimore Orioles' Adam Jones against the National League during the eighth inning of Major League Baseball's All-Star game in St. Louis, July 14, 2009. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES SPORT BASEBALL)

Reuters

** CORRECTS CATCHER TO VICTOR MARTINEZ, INSTEAD OF YADIER MOLINA ** American League catcher Victor Martinez, right, of the Cleveland Indians, talks with Jonathan Papelbon of the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game in St. Louis, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Detroit Tigers' Curtis Granderson (R) is congratulated by American League teammate Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox after Granderson scored a run for the American League on a sacrifice fly by Baltimore Orioles' Adam Jones against the National League during the eighth inning of Major League Baseball's All-Star game in St. Louis, July 14, 2009. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES SPORT BASEBALL)

Reuters

ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: National League All-Star Francisco Rodriguez of the New York Mets pitches during the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Francisco Rodriguez

Getty Images

ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Carl Crawford of the Tampa Bay Rays robs a home run from National League All-Star Brad Hawpe of the Colorado Rockies during the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carl Crawford

Getty Images

ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: The St. Louis Cardinals Mascot Fredbird performs during the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Fredbird

Getty Images

National League's Jayson Werth of the Philadelphia Phillies throws his helmet after striking out in the seventh inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game in St. Louis, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Tampa Bay Rays' Carl Crawford (C) holds the ball after robbing Colorado Rockies Brad Hawpe (R) of a home run with a leaping catch in the seventh inning as Toronto Blue Jays' first baseman Aaron Hill celebrates (L) in the seventh inning of Major League Baseball's All-Star game in St. Louis, July 14, 2009. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES SPORT BASEBALL)

Reuters

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

7-15-2009 @ 1:08AM

Randy Stemm said...

When I was first getting into baseball, I became a Yankee fan--and an American League fan. At that time there was an extreme bias undergirded by pure sarcasm and arrogance exhibited by National League fans as to the vast "superiority" of the National League!! I was reminded that if it weren't for the Yankees, the disparity would be a major embarassment to the "inferior" AL. I put up with this same old song and dance for years. I now declare to this NL superioriy crowd that what goes around comes around!! The silence is deafening these days, now that the AL is obviously the better league!! How sweet it is!!

7-15-2009 @ 1:17AM

kngalx723 said...

haha bro, nicely put. you gotta love the American league and the Yankees. I'm also a big yankee fan and loved seeing Rivera close it out

7-15-2009 @ 2:08AM

Glenn said...

Who is Papelbon?

7-15-2009 @ 2:14AM

That red sox pitcher just about blew it and he gets the win. Is that guy their regular closer?

7-15-2009 @ 10:09AM

riskyb798 said...

yes he is, where are you from ? the moon!

7-15-2009 @ 2:18AM

dignlifeinaz said...

What? No mention of Obama?...and how he threw out the first pitch like a girl or how he managed to get into the broadcaster's box where he could get to a microphone? AOL...you are showing your true colors.

7-15-2009 @ 7:31AM

Frank said...

Way to go AL & Carl Crawford!

7-15-2009 @ 8:25AM

Billybrw said...

Yes Obama at the all-star game,Obama ogling at 13year old girls with the frenchy pervert president. When is this clown gonna do something job related as unemployment now hits 10% and he promised it would not.

7-15-2009 @ 8:27AM

catbobclark said...

to Randy Stemm. . .

. . .well spoken comment! I'm from that era as well, only from the NL perspective. I used to live for a Dodgers/Yankees world series but the rest of the AL didn't seem worthy to play "anybody" in the NL. Now, your time has come and I sincerely hope you enjoy it. It's good for us "superiority" nuts to eat a little crow now and then, and the AL is unquestionably the dominant force in MLB these days -- my hats off to you.
It will be interesting to see if the worm turns again or if this dominance lasts and lasts? My only question is "why do you suppose the AL stays so much better?" Is it the draft and smarter GM's? Is it better coaching and/or talent scouting? Or do you think the DH has a little something to do with it? Back in the day there were just as many, or possibly more, superstars and hall of fame caliber players in the AL as there were in the NL yet the NL still dominated. That leads me to believe it has to be something other then the talent of the players that determines which league can claim superiority in any given era.
Again, congrats on your current bragging rights!

7-16-2009 @ 4:44PM

Sports Fan said...

Mariano is a marvel. The hitters know what he is throwing and he still gets the outs. There never was a closer like him. You are privileged to be in his time and have the opportunity to see him pitch live. The records back this up.

7-15-2009 @ 9:32AM

Mike said...

The NL will win the series this year, you can book it.

7-15-2009 @ 9:57AM

REVANTHONYFRASO said...

Thye AL won because it was God's will. The NL plays for Satan. Everyone knows that. I have no more to say. Plus,I won five bucks.

7-15-2009 @ 10:28AM

Big John! said...

Did you see osambo throw that ball. I knew he was a girly-man. Didn't even reach the plate.

7-15-2009 @ 11:24AM

bigblue said...

I wonder who you voted for in the election??? Someone should inform you the election and civil war are both over and YOU lost both. The topic is about the all star game and its players and best you can do is talk trash??? Get over it already.

7-15-2009 @ 11:27AM

Red White & YOU said...

Mike::: YOU got a crystal ball or are you still talking out of your ass??

7-15-2009 @ 11:42AM

b.borders said...

Like everything else,Obama could not get the job DONE. If Pujols would not have moved forward, the ball would have been IN THE DIRT. He throws like a "wussy", no a little girl, no like a spoiled little child. The same way he acts when he doesn't get his way, "I'll show you". National League and Selig made a big mistake! Then the dumb-ass wears a White Sox jacket. Like everything else "screw the rest of you, only a small group gets my attention".

7-15-2009 @ 11:50AM

geraldr5 said...

I'm not an Obama fan in any sense of the word. But you've got to admit the guy really knows how to have a good time. He gets out among people and shows a very human side. Now if he'll just show a presidential side, we'll all be happy. :) One thing for sure, no one can ever call the guy a recluse!!!